Head coach Steve Cooper was delighted with the manner in which Nottingham Forest returned to winning ways at the City Ground.
After a flat display at Preston North End in midweek, the Reds responded in style with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Bristol City.
Goals from Brennan Johnson and James Garner clinched the three points, and the hosts could have scored more had Robins goalkeeper Daniel Bentley not made some terrific saves.
It was a result which keeps Cooper’s side within touching distance of the play-off places, sitting three points behind sixth-placed Luton Town ahead of Friday night’s clash at Sheffield United.
“We’re still catching up. All we’ve got to do is look after our own house, and that’s by doing what we did today - attacking games, playing well and getting our own points on the board,” said the Forest boss.
“We can’t control what goes on elsewhere. I’ve not even seen what’s gone on elsewhere, to be fair.
“I’m really pleased with the players today. And we’re really excited now about going to Sheffield on Friday.
“We played well today. From start to finish, we were the dominant team.
“At the start of the game - 15 or 20 minutes in - I was thinking, ‘we need to score here’, because we were in such control of the game and getting in such good areas.
“Fortunately, we did.
“At half-time we looked at a couple of videos of things we thought we could really carry on. I was very clear about it not being a game to see out, it was to try to get two or three more goals.
“We got one more and we created numerous other chances.
“We never really looked threatened in our own penalty box. Ethan (Horvath) took a great cross from a set-piece in the first half, but didn’t have much else to do.
“We were well worthy of a 2-0 win. It probably coulda, shoulda been more. Bentley always seems to play well against my teams! But as long as we’re creating, I know we will score goals.
“We didn’t play so well on Tuesday. I’m a believer in playing well and that will give you the wins, and the points, you need over the course of a season.
“To be fair to the boys, they put Tuesday behind them and got back up to speed. I’m pleased with that.”
The hosts were firmly in control of the game throughout, with Djed Spence, Steve Cook and Keinan Davis all denied by Bentley in the first half.
And they worked plenty of other good openings, too.
“It’s the type of performance that we always want. Ideally with a few more goals,” Cooper added.
“I have a very clear idea of how I want the team to play. I don’t care who we play against or where we play, that’s what I want.
“Today was good. It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t absolutely brilliant, there are definitely things we could have been better at.
“But that’s always going to be our ambition - to play really well and play within the identity that we want to do.
“It’s always important to get wins. I’m a big believer in performances, but you’ve got to win games, we know that.”
